Gene E. LeForge Sr., 76, De Soto, IL

[GyBill]

DE SOTO - Gene E. LeForge Sr., 76, died at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2007, in Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Marion.

Gene was born in Terre Haute, Ind., on Dec. 11, 1930, a son to the late Forrest Gerald and Lova C. (Moss) LeForge.

He married Reba"Raedell" Newlin on Jan. 26, 1952, in Hutsonville. She survives in De Soto.

Gene was U.S. Army Air Corps and Marine Corps veteran of World War II.

Gene retired in 1987, after 25 years as an electrician for the Illinois Central Railroad.

Family and friends will hold memorial services at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Marion.

Survivors include his wife, Raedell of De Soto; three sons and one daughter-in-law, Jerry LeForge of Ocala, Fla., Gene LeForge Jr. of De Soto and Joe and Kateena LeForge of De Soto; one daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Bill Vest of Grand Tower; a special son-in-law, Bob Nimmo of Grand Tower; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Mary LeForge of Ava; and very special friends, Ralph and Doris Snider of De Soto and Larry and Sue Greenwood of Cobden.

In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by one brother, Gary LeForge.

To send a condolence or for more information, visit www.crawshawfuneralhome.com.